Sighting device for ordnance



Dec. 6, 1932. 1,890,351

H. WESTPHLINGER SIGHTING DEVICE FOR ORDNANGE Filed June 23. 1930 v -ATD RNE( fr fifi i u Patented Dec. 6, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HERMANN WESTPHLINGER, 0F DUSSELDORF, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO RHEINISCHE METALLWAAREN- UND MASCHINENFABRIK, OF DUSSELDORF-DERENDORF, GER- MANY, A CORPORATION OF GERMANY SIGHTING DEVICE FOR ORDNANCE Application led .Tune 23, 1930, Serial No. 463,333, and in Germany November 15, 1928.

My invention relates to a sighting device for ordnance equipped with means for eliminating the iniiuence of the alteration of the initial velocity of the projectile.

The known devices of this type in which the influence on the range, of the initial velocity of the projectile reduced due to corrosion or wear of the gun barrel is compensated for by automatic alteration of the firing angle by means of lever` or cam drives, give satisfactorily exact results only with a reduction of the initial velocity of the projectile which diiiers only slightly from the original initial velocity, and only within a range of the tiring angle of about 30 degrees.

Now my invention has for its object a device which gives exact corrections of the ranges even with comparatively great reduction of the initial velocity of the projectile and throughout the whole range of the tiring angle, that is, up to about 45 degrees. Furthermore, my new device does not comprise curved bars which are ditlicult to manufacture, but consists of easily machineable members which have an easy play.

According to my invention the telescope of the sighting device has imparted to it the additional adjustment, required to compensate for the alteration of the initial velocity, according to the indications given by a special indicating device. This device comprises a graduated drum which is turned proportionally to the adjusted iiring angle and has a graduation determined by the law of the relations existing between the initial velocity, range, and tiring angle. With this graduation co-operates a counter-mark which is moved in dependency upon the additional adjustment.

In order that my invention may be more readily understood, an embodiment of the same is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l illustrates a sighting device designed in accordance with the invention and dependent upon the elevation of the gun barrel, and

Figure 2 illustrates the graduated drum of the correcting device, on an enlarged scale.

Referring to the drawing, A denotes the cradle of the gun barrel A1 which cradle has mounted on it the sight carrier B which in turn carries a ournal E which supports the sight bar C and is parallel to the horizontal trunnions D. The sight bar terminates in an arcuate rack C3 centering in journal E and having external teeth C1 and internal teeth C2. The former are in mesh with a pinion P which can be turned by a hand wheel N by means of a worm drive O mounted on a casing F fixed to the sight carrier B.

Another arm G which is likewise fulcrumed on journal E, carries the sighting telescope J on its front end in a bearing arm H. Mounted for rotation on the rear end of arm G is a pinion Rin mesh with the internal teeth of rack C3 and rigidly connected to a worm wheel S. In order to displace arm G relatively to bar C this worm wheel S can be turned by a hand wheel M by means of a worm S1. The shaft of pinion R, Figure 2, is hollow and surrounds another shaft on which are fixed a graduated drum U and a pinion T rigid therewith. The latter is in mesh with an arcuate rack L mounted on carrier B and having its center likewise in journal E. A screw spindle W adapted to displace a pointer X along drum U receives rotary motion through a pair of bevel wheels from the drive M-S1.

The graduated drum U together with the shiftable pointer X constitutes the indicating device for the adjustment of the sighting telescope in addition to the normal firing angle, as required by alteration of the initial velocity. To this end the cylindrical outer surface of the drum U is provided with several graduations determined by means of the range table on the basis of the relations existing between initial velocity, firing angle and range. These graduations start from a common origin and form divergent helical lines on the outer surface of drum U. To each of the initial velocities, which are suitably spaced from one another, belongs a particular one of these lines. In the embodiment illustrated, Figure 2, fthe group of lines comprises four graduation lines l to 4.

The described sighting device operates as follows:

First the bar C and therewith the arm G locity of the projectile from said standard and telescope J are displaced as indicated by arrow Y, by turning the hand wheel N. The amount of this displacement, that is, the firing angle which corresponds to the original initial velocity of the projectiles and is taken from the range table, can be read on the graduation of a sighting drum Q. When this displacement of the telescope arm G takes place, the graduated drum U is rotated also through a proportional amount relatively to arm G by pinion T rolling along the stationary rack L in the direction of arrow Z.

Now the shiftable pointer X is displaced by turning hand wheel M until this pointer registers with that one of the lines of drum U which belongs to the initial projectile velocity prevailing at that time and ascertained in any suitable manner. By this rotation of hand wheel M and corresponding shift of pointer X the telescope G also is displaced relatively to bar C in the direction of arrow Y and drum U is rotated in the direction of arrow Z. lVhen the pointer X registers with that line of drum U that belongs to the initial projectile velocity just prevailing at that time, the total displacement imparted to the telescope J constitutes the correct range angle which is composed of the tiring angle taken from the range table and the required angle of correction, and this total angle should now be given to the gun barrel. This is done in known manner by elevating the gun barrel by means of the elevating gear (not shown), and by directing the telescope J to the target.

What I claim is In a gun-aiming device, the combination of a"sighting means, a support for said means moit'dupi'tlie gun, means for adjusting the said sighting means to the correct angle of elevation corresponding to` the standard initial velocity of the projectile, a second means for adjusting said sighting means to a supplemental extent, in accordance with correction values made necessary by deviations of said initial velocity from the assumed standard value, said second adjusting means comprising two setting elements which together constitute an indicating device, and which are adjustable with respect to one another, a common single operating member for so adjusting them, one of said setting elements comprising a means provided with a series of correction curves for combining the said above-named angle of elevation corresponding to the standard velocity with the correction settings, each curve of the said series corresponding to a definite initial velocity of the projectile, whereas the other setting element, which constitutes a pointer cooperating with said curves, is shifted by the second means in correspondence with the necessary value of the correction corresponding to the deviation of the actual initial veinitial velocity.

In testimony whereor` I have aihxed signature.

HERMANN WESTPHLINGER.

icc

vlio

ill] 

